Assessing Early Discontinuation of Opiates After Trauma The inappropriate use of prescription opiates is a significant public health issue throughout the United States, but little is known about patterns of use and factors associated with discontinuation of these drugs after major trauma. For a study, investigators sought to identify predictors of opiate discontinuation in patients who were discharged after experiencing a trauma. At 3 months, more than 90% had discontinued opiate use. Advanced age, marital status, and low socioeconomic status appeared to be significantly associated with a lower likelihood of discontinuation of opiates after a trauma whereas race, injury severity, and comorbid anxiety or depression were not. The findings may help surgeons identify high-risk patients and manage them accordingly. —————————————————————- Monitoring Functional Recovery at Home Few studied have explored the feasibility of wearable, real-time, wireless monitoring devices and their effect on functional recovery and patient-centered outcomes after surgery. For a study, researchers had major abdominal surgery patients wear wristband pedometers that tracked their steps 3 to 7 days before their operation, during their hospitalization, and for 2 weeks after they were discharged. Web-based, self-reported symptoms and quality of life (QOL) were obtained throughout the study. Adherence rates for wearing the pedometer were above 80% before and after discharge. More than 75% of symptom and QOL assessments were completed by about 63% and 74% of patients, respectively. Patient satisfaction scores were 4 out of 5. —————————————————————- Predicting ICU Readmission for Surgical Patients ICU readmission within 72 hours is an established quality measure of postoperative care, but research is lacking on predictors of these readmissions following various types of...

When compared with open surgical techniques, the benefits of minimally invasive surgery have been well documented in medical literature, including increased safety, quicker recovery, shorter hospital stays, and cosmetic advantages. Nonetheless, surgeons who perform a majority of their cases laparoscopically appear to encounter physical stress and mental strain beyond what they experience when performing open surgery. New survey findings suggest that surgeon burden may be greater than previously assumed. “Surgeon injuries appear to be a significant problem that not only affects surgeons but also all stakeholders in the delivery of healthcare, particularly surgical care,” says Adrian E. Park, MD. “Any type of surgery, particularly minimally invasive surgery, takes a physical and mental toll on surgeons. They continuously adapt to ensure the best outcome for patients, often dipping hugely into their own health reserve. We’re not going to serve our patients, the public, or the healthcare system well if we have prematurely shortened careers because of the physical tolls and cognitive ravages of what we do.” Scant literature is available on the extent to which strain during labiaplasty affects surgeons’ bodies when compared with open surgery. In a study in the March 2010 Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Park and colleagues published a study that sought to confirm the prevalence of minimally invasive surgery-related operator symptoms and discomforts within a broad population of laparoscopic surgeons. Since previous surveys, the adoption rate of minimally invasive procedures has steadily grown, and more surgeons are now performing these surgeries than ever before. According to findings from the study, a fairly astounding number of injuries or symptoms were related to occupation...